(LAS VEGAS) Over 100 companies and flight departments will be honored for accident-free flying at the 2025 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), with two standouts—Lane Aviation Corp. and Occidental Petroleum Corp.—reaching a 90-year accident-free safety record as of the period ending December 31, 2024. The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) announced the 2025 Flying Safety Awards on August 12, 2025, and will present them during the National Safety Forum at NBAA-BACE, scheduled for October 14–16, 2025, in Las Vegas. NBAA says the recognition reflects the latest and widest look at business aviation safety performance as of August 13, 2025.
The timing matters. Aviation safety has been under close public and regulatory watch over the past year, and NBAA is placing business aviation’s safety record—not just aircraft and technology—at the center of its flagship show.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, public recognition programs at large industry events often draw increased attention from corporate compliance teams and travel planners, which can strengthen follow-through on safety programs back at home bases.
NBAA-BACE is expected to draw hundreds of operators and safety leaders to the National Safety Forum, where crews, maintenance managers, and company leadership compare best practices and discuss ways to prevent incidents. Event details and registration are available on NBAA’s site: https://nbaa.org/events/2025-nbaa-business-aviation-convention-exhibition-nbaa-bace/.
Awards at a glance
Two companies reached the top milestone this year. The NBAA 90-Year Flying Safety Award goes to:
– Lane Aviation Corp.
– Occidental Petroleum Corp.
The long-haul safety list continues with notable longevity:
– 75-Year Award: Becton Dickenson (BD) Aviation; CSX Aviation
– 60-Year Award: McKee Foods Transportation LLC
– 50-Year Award: Emerson Flight Operations; Wilson Trailer Co.
Beyond the multi-decade milestones, NBAA tracks company and individual records across several categories:
- Corporate Business Flying Awards: 101 companies, 5,214,141 cumulative hours
- Commercial Business Flying Awards: 11 companies, 582,972 cumulative hours
- Maintenance Department Safety Awards: 57 companies
- Pilot Safety Awards: 284 pilots, 726,773 cumulative hours
- Scheduler/Licensed Dispatcher Safety Awards: 63 recipients
- Support Services Safety Awards: 214 recipients
- Avionics/Maintenance Technician Safety Awards: 164 recipients
These totals represent accident-free operations within the program’s rules.
For readers looking for a regulatory frame of reference, the Federal Aviation Administration’s Aviation Safety organization provides an overview of the safety system in the United States at https://www.faa.gov/aviation_safety.
Program history and purpose
The Flying Safety Awards program began in 1953 to encourage strong safety culture within business aviation and to recognize both team and individual performance.
Over time, the program has:
– Added categories to reflect real-world operations
– Refined definitions to match how corporate and commercial flight departments operate
– Continued to measure years of accident-free service and total hours alongside department structure
NBAA describes the effort as a way to foster continual improvement—measuring outcomes and encouraging systems that support safe operations.
Eligibility and how NBAA tracks safety
NBAA bases awards on clearly defined criteria tied to accident-free years and cumulative flight hours. The program distinguishes among company flight operations, maintenance teams, and individual professionals.
Key program rules include:
– Corporate awards: Count only non-revenue flying (company flights that do not sell seats or services to the public).
– Commercial awards: Cover non-scheduled, revenue-producing flights (scheduled services are excluded).
– Maintenance department recognition: Requires a full-time, certificated manager and the ability to perform routine repairs and inspections in-house.
– Individual awards: Track accident-free service for pilots, avionics and maintenance technicians, schedulers/licensed dispatchers, and support services staff.
The separation between corporate and commercial categories is meant to compare like with like, so similar operations stand side by side. NBAA publishes detailed rules, eligibility, and application steps at its Flying Safety Awards page: https://nbaa.org/about/awards/flying-safety-awards/.
The association reports that hundreds of operators and industry personnel are included in this year’s honors. NBAA also says the awards set a public bar for habits that reduce risk: thorough training, disciplined procedures, and systems that catch small problems before they become bigger ones.
NBAA regularly updates criteria to reflect changes in equipment, regulation, and the way companies manage their fleets and crews.
National Safety Forum and practical impact
NBAA-BACE’s National Safety Forum will be the stage for the formal presentations, bringing together teams that fly, fix, schedule, and support aircraft.
For many departments, the recognition:
– Doubles as a practical tool to keep leadership focused on safety budgets and refresher training
– Helps new team members see how daily choices tie into a long record of safe operations
– Encourages steady crew rosters, clear manuals, and recurring training as foundations for long-term safety
This year’s spotlight on safety comes as business aviation fields questions from clients and regulators about maintenance practices, training pipelines, and operational risk. By putting award recipients on the record at NBAA-BACE, the association aims to show how policy and practice connect: measured hours, measured years, and documented procedures that add up to clean safety logs.
Guidance for operators and next steps
For operators new to the program, NBAA positions the awards as a roadmap: track the right data, invest in people, and keep a structure that supports conservative decision-making.
In simple terms, the goal is:
1. Measure and document safety performance.
2. Invest in training and steady crew management.
3. Make conservative, safety-first decision-making the default.
NBAA notes that applications for the next cycle will open in February 2026, continuing the annual rhythm of reporting, verification, and recognition. As the industry adopts new avionics, data tools, and training tech, the program expects to keep tuning its categories and thresholds so measures remain relevant.
Contacts and final takeaways
For direct questions on the 2025 awards or participation details, NBAA lists the following contact:
– Dan Hubbard, 202-431-5970, [email protected]
General information about the association and program updates is available at nbaa.org.
While awards alone do not prevent accidents, they map to habits that do: conservative planning, clear communication, and routine practice. In a year with heavier attention on aviation safety, business aviation leaders will use Las Vegas to show that those habits are not just policy—they’re daily work. With Lane Aviation Corp. and Occidental Petroleum Corp. joining the rare 90-year tier, NBAA-BACE will highlight how long-term discipline can keep crews and passengers safe over generations.
This Article in a Nutshell
At NBAA-BACE 2025, business aviation will spotlight safety: Lane Aviation and Occidental reach 90 years accident-free, while NBAA honors hundreds of operators, promoting measured procedures, training investment, and documented hours to sustain long-term safe operations across corporate and commercial flight departments.
